Touts in Laikipia put on notice, accused of robbing travellers

 

Authorities in Laikipia have vowed to flush out touts operating in area matatu termini, saying they were a threat to peace and tranquility in the transport hubs.

County commissioner Joseph Kanyiri while addressing residents during Madaraka Day celebrations at Il polei secondary school on Thursday, noted that the touts were a threat to security as they were being accused of robbing travelers of cash and other valuables.

“The government will restore order in all matatu stages, I am therefore sounding a warning to those youths operating there yet they are not affiliated to any Sacco to cease forthwith,” Kanyiri warned.

The county commissioner noted that the touts were mostly found in the Nanyuki, Nyahururu, and Rumuruti stages where they harass travelers in the pretext of wooing them to board matatus.

He added the same youths were peddling drugs at the stages and were targeting school children boarding matatus at the stages.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu who was also present revealed that his administration would upscale the budgetary allocation to the agriculture department to empower more farmers since the economy of the county was heavily reliant on farming.

“The current county administration is committed to boosting economic development, wealth, and job creation for the people of Laikipia through increased budgetary allocation to the department of Agriculture,” Irungu said.

Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri and Laikipia North MP Sarah Lekorere lauded the government in deploying National Police Reservists in parts of the county affected by banditry, saying peace had been restored in the affected areas.

The two legislators however called for the establishment of a kitty by the government to give the NPRs a monthly stipend for sustenance.

Over 300 police reservists are currently on deployment in parts of Laikipia bordering Isiolo, Samburu, and Baringo counties in a bid to tame banditry       BY THE STAR